In this issue

Apache Software Foundation join Java commmittee

CNet Investor reported that Sun Microsystems have set up
two executive committees to oversee their Java Community
Process(SM) community-based Java technology development
programmes. The first committee will oversee the Java
technologies for the desktop/server space and the other will
oversee the Java technologies for the consumer/embedded
space.

The two committees are comprised of many well known names,
and the Apache Software Foundation sits proud alongside
high-profile companies such as Apple, Nokia, and Palm. The
diversity of these groups will ensure that Java continues and
strives to be developed as a platform-independent technology
that can hold true to its promises. George Paolini, vice
president of Java Community Development at Sun Microsystems,
Inc. commented, "As is evident by the depth, diversity and
strength of the JCP programmes Executive Committee members,
the future of Java technology specifications is in capable
and caring hands."

IBM Donates XML technology

As reported by
C|Net, the Apache Software Foundation has received
technology from IBM which will help developers create
services using an open, vendor-neutral process. IBM's
Java-built Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) will be
contributed to the open source Apache XML project. The system
provides a simple method of using XML to send message and
access web services across distributed networks.

IBM's technology enables businesses to link computing systems
on the net and trade online. Using the technology,
applications developed by different parties can process
common-format SOAP messages - such as electronic invoices or
purchase orders - seamlessly. The first implementation, IBM's
SOAP4J, is now available on the Apache Web site.

This is by no means IBM's first contribution to the Apache
Software Foundation. Previous technologies include the XML4J
Parser, XML4C Parser and Lotus XSL. As well as IBM, Microsoft
and nine other firms recently submitted the blueprints for
SOAP to W3C.

"Professional Apache" by Peter Wainwright is one of the many
books in Wrox Press Ltd's "Programmer to Programmer" series,
aimed at experienced Apache users and web server
administrators who are using Apache for the first time.
Packed full of information with emphasis on performance,
security, and some popular third party modules, its
task-based chapters are organised in a smooth and logical
manner.

Covering topics such as fine-tuning performance and securing
Apache with mod_ssl, we think Professional Apache will make a
fine reference guide for those who use Apache. [Read
our full review]

The Developer Shed have released a useful guide to Perl in
their article, "Perl
101". Two articles of this five part series are
available, exploring server-side scripting using this popular
language.

Recently launched, internet.com's Apache Today boasts some
impressive content (and not-so-impressive photographs of its
authors) from the Apache community. ASF Vice President Ken
Coar has contributed an article,
"Getting Started With Apache 1.3" which provides an
interesting insight into the deployment of the Apache web
server once the decision has been made to go with an
open-source technology. It provides a step-by-step
explanation of the process which will be invaluable to those
looking to get Apache up and running for the first time. In
an article from Apache Today's resident editor Paul Ferris,
"
PHP 4.0 -- Dynamic Content for the World Wide Web
Warrior" explains the differences between the
newly-released PHP4 and previous versions, including some
home-grown benchmarking that concurs with Zend's claims that
PHP4 is between 5 and 200 times faster than its older
brother.

Apache 1.3.12 is the current stable release. Users of Apache
1.3.11 and earlier on Unix and Windows systems should upgrade
to this version. Read the Guide
to 1.3.12, the Guide
to 1.3.11 for information about changes between 1.3.9 and
1.3.11 and the Guide to
1.3.9 for information about changes between 1.3.6 and
1.3.9.

Nearly 1000 Apache Week readers entered our "Professional
Apache" competition. Unfortunately we only have 5 copies of
the book to give away and our apologies if you're not one of
the five people listed below. Surprisingly, there were a
couple of wrong answers, although those who believed Bill
Gates - who was the odd one out - to be an Apache developer
will go unnamed.

Thanks also to those of you who gave us a laugh with your
"Who wants to be a millionnaire" style answers and kudos to
the web administrator at a recently floated dotcom company
who answered - at the last minute - three times. Only one of
your answers was right. Special mentions to Peter Rowell who
sent us three amusing Gates haiku, and to Lee Davies for
pointing out that although Bill doesn't work on Apache "he
does, allegedly, scalp the competition".

Just for the record, we don't believe for one second those of
you who told us you'd never heard of Dean Gaudet. And we've
never seen Brian Behlendorf and Bill Gates in the same room
either. There's a conspiracy theory in there somewhere.